They Don't Make Tractors Like They Used To!

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Can you begin to get an inkling of power, friction power at
belt, and drawbar? A 30-60 tractor is a very big machine. Has
anyone wondered what happened to all that power between belt and
drawbar? Friction takes a 50% bite. But, one thinks, a transmission
has ball and roller bearings as antifriction devices. Big deal!
Does anyone remember the Fordson owner who wrote, 'Fordson worm
drive could get so hot, one could fry an egg on it!' Gear teeth
are fairly efficient.

Notice in IRON-MAN ALBUM that 60 II. P. steam engine has only 20
H.P. at drawbar. Those plain bearings chew up power faster than gas
outfits. A farmer may snap his suspenders and proudly exclaim,
'That's a 30-60 tractor.' If its 60 years old,
don't you believe it. If it has done years of hard work, a
compression test will show how much H. P. is left.

When you hear, 'They don't make tractors like they used
to,' this is partly true. Big bore and stroke engines seem to
last forever. Our modern diesels wear out, and have replaceable
sleeves. Mini cars replace motor block; V W's replace
cylinders, pistons, rings, heads. When diesel has 1/16' between
piston and cylinder, it won't start. Don't take my word for
it. This was head of Allis Chalmers tractor research department, at
Davis, California, just before we saw movies of their experimental,
butane-fired, fuel-cell, electric drive tractor. How come it never
sot on the market?

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